Potato-harvester.



Patentad Dec. 2, I902. E. L. SCHANCK.

. POTATO HARVESTER.

Abplipdtion filed Apr. 2, 1902.1

2 Sheets-Shut I.

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(Application filed Ap 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UlTED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

EPHRAIM L. SOIIANOK, OF NEAR DELAWARE, OHIO.

POTATO-HARVESTER.

EPEOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0.. 715,158, dated December 2, 1902.

Application filed April 2, 1902. Serial N 101,048.

To all whom it nutty concern.-

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM L. SOHANCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at or near Delaware, in the county of Delaware and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Potato-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to potato-harvesters, and has for its object the construction of a machine that will dig and clean potatoes in an efficient manner.

A further object of my invention is to provide a digger and shaker that may be raised and lowered in unison, the shaker being so arranged in its relation to the digger that in all positions of adjustment it will receive the potatoes direct from the digger.

A further object is to provide means to adjust the digger to different inclinations to the vertical in its forward movement and to vibrate the shaker in all its positions of vertical adjustment.

A further object is to provide means to antomatically relieve the shaker from overloading and adapt it to the conditions of soil and work to be performed.

I attain these objects by the constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and set forth in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side view of a machine with the near wheel partly broken away to more clearly show the working parts embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the main frame. Fig. 4 shows the vertical movable frame carry ing the digger, and Fig. 5 shows the shaker and its frame.

Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.

In the drawings the main frame a, bolted to the tongue a at a and further braced to said tongue by the rods a is provided with the laterally-extending spindles a, on which are mounted the wheels a which carry the machine. WVithin the oppositely disposed channels or guides a, formed on the inner sides of the vertical portions of the main frame, I mount the vertically-movable frame I), which carries the digger or shovel b, said digger being attached to the forwardly-extending arms b which are pivoted to said (No model.)

frame at?) and are brought together at their forward ends and pivoted by the bolt 19 to any one of the vertically-disposed series of perforations in the depending bar b which is pivoted to the tongue at. The hand-lever c I have shown pivoted to the rear end of the tongue above the frame adjacent to the cogsegment 0, and I have provided said lever with the usual stop a to engage the cogs of said segment. The perforated lug b of the frame Z) is pivoted to the laterally-extending arm 0 of the lever c by the connecting-rod c".

It will be seen that the height of the digger may be adjusted by the hand-lever c and held in its adjusted position by the stop on said lever and that the vertical inclination of the digger may be adjusted by changing the connections at the forward end of the diggerarms to the different perforations in the depending arm.

The vertically-movable frame I) I provide with the rearwardly-extending stud 19 to which I journal the shaker-bearing frame 61 by the bearing (1. Saidshaker-bearing frame is formed with oppositely extending and downwardly-projecting arms, to the lower ends of which the respective ends of the shaker d are pivoted. The shaker near its respective ends is provided with the upwardly and outwardly extending arms 01 formed with a series of perforations 61 to any one of which, according to the tension desired, the springs (1 extending from the frame (1, may be attached, the lugs (Z of the shaker hearing against the frame d, limiting the movement caused by the tension of the spring. When the machine is workingin favorable soil, the springs may be dispensed with and a fixed attachment made; but when employed in sticky soil difiicult to free from the potatoes the use of the springs is preferable, for the reason that when the potatoes, with the clinging soil, are accumulated on the grating formed by the spindles d of the shaker to such an'extent as to overcome the tension of the springs the springs will yield and allow the shaker to drop rearwardly, thereby facilitating the discharge.

At one side of the main frame, preferably at its upper end, I pivot the tilting bar 6, having at its respective ends the rollers e, which engage or ride upon the periphery of the ring 6 attached to one of the carryingwheels, said periphery being formed with a series of scallops, and the tilting bar, with the rollers on its respective ends, is so placed in its relation to the ring that the raised portions a, formed by these scallops, will alternately raise and lower the respective ends of the said bar, and by means of the connecting-rod e pivoted at one end to one side of said tilting bar and at its other end to one end of the shaker-frame, said last-named frame will be given a reciprocating lateral movement to dislodge the soil adhering to the potatoes through the grating, and thereby clean them.

The digger b is preferably formed in the shape of a shovel, having its point extending forwardly, and near its rear upper edges I preferably provide the inwardly-extending portions 19 to guide the potatoes into the shaker.

It Will be seen that the digger and shaker are so placed in their relation to each other them, are delivered directly from the digger to the shaker, and by reason of both the digger and shaker being pivoted to the vertically-movable frame they may be raised and lowered in unison by operating the hand-lever, and the inclination of the digger can be varied by changing the connection of the digger-arms from one to another of the perforations in the depending bar 12 The shaker is vibrated laterally by the tilting bar and its connections and is held by the springs in carrying position until the load overcomes the tension of the springs, when the springs will yield and allow the shaker to drop rearwardly, thereby facilitating the discharge.

Having thus described my invention, I claiml. The combination with the main frame and a vertically-movable frame loosely connectedto said main frame, of a digger pivoted to said last-named frame, means to raise andlower said movable frame, and additional means to give said digger different inclinations to the vertical in the line of travel, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with the main frame, a pivoted depending bar, and a vertically-movable frame loosely connected to said main frame, of a digger substantially in the form of a forwardly-extending shovel, having forwardly-extending arms, said arms near their rear ends being pivoted to said movable frame and at their forward ends having a vertically-adjustable connection with said depending bar, and a hand-lever on said'main lower said movable frame, and means to vibrate said shaker in any position of vertical adjustment, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with the main frame, carrying-wheels therefor, and a verticallymovable frame loosely connected to said main frame, ofa digger and shaker, each pivoted to said last-named frame, means to raise and lower said movable frame, and means, including a tilting lever, to vibrate said shaker by the movement of said carryingwheels, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with the main frame, a

vertically-movable frame loosely connected to and guided by said main frame, and a shaker-frame pivoted thereto, of a forwardlyextending digger pivoted to said movable frame, and a shaker extending rearwardly from said digger pivoted to said shaker-frame, a two-part connection to yieldingly hold said shaker in normal position, and to automatically release the load, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with the main frame and Vertically-movable frame loosely connected to and guided by said main frame, and a shaker-frame pivoted thereto, of a forwardly-extending digger pivoted to said movable frame, and a shaker extending rearwardly from said digger pivoted to said shaker-frame, a laterally-extending arm on said shaker, the inner end of which is adapted to engage said shaker-frame, and a tensionspring from said arm to said shaker-frame to hold the shaker in normal position, and to automatically release the load, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of March, A. D. 1902.

EPHRA'IM L. SOI-IANCK.

Witnesses:

E. T. BRANDEBURG, B. YEHLEY.

IIO 

